Children's music program; Love Gone Wild; Help with heating bills

ROYAL OAK — Elementary and preschool students are invited to join Miss Ann and her guitar at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, for a lively sing-a-long that gives new twists to old favorites with the audience creating interesting lyrics.

Registration is limited to 40. Visit ropl.org or call the Youth Reference Desk at 248-246-3725 to sign-up for this free program.

‘Education Under Fire’ in Iran

ROYAL OAK —“Education Under Fire,” a documentary film that explores the Iranian government’s denial of the right to education to minorities for religious and ideological reasons, is featured at Oakland Community College’s Royal Oak Campus, 739 S. Washington, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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The film will be shown in the campus’ alcove (across from the Counseling area). Admission is free.

To learn more about the film go to educationunderfire.com. For additional information, contact the OCC Student LIFE office at 248-233-2766 or email studentlife@oaklanddc.edu.

Lunch discussion of ‘Shanghai Remembered’

SOUTHFIELD — Author Berl Faulbaum will discuss his book “Shanghai Remembered: Stories of Jews That Escaped to Shanghai from Nazi Europe,” on Tuesday at National Council of Jewish Women, 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306.

Lunch will be provided at noon, with Faulbaum speaking at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $15, $10 for members. RSVP to 248-355-3300 ext. 0 by Friday.

Book talk on black WWII veterans

SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Road, will host a book talk by Peter Banks, author of “No Medals: The True Story of the Search for Historical Evidence Necessary to Gain Medal Recognition for a Black World War II Veteran,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

In his book, Banks recounts the steps that he took to find his father’s service records, a journey sprinkled with bitter disappointments and exciting revelations.

For further information, call the Guest Services Desk at 248-796-4224.

Love Gone Wild at the Zoo

ROYAL OAK — Birds do it. Bees do it. Find out how animals at the Detroit Zoo do it at the second annual Love Gone Wild from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14.

Open to both singles and sweethearts 21 and older, this memorable Valentine’s Day event offers a candid, intimate and entertaining look at how some of the Detroit Zoo’s animal residents do the “wild thing.”

Held in the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center, Love Gone Wild features a strolling supper and desserts prepared by the Zoo’s culinary team from Dining in the Wild. A champagne welcome and two drink tickets are also included.

The cost is $85, $75 for Detroit Zoological Society Members, and includes parking. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at www.detroitzoo.org/lovegonewild or by calling 248-541-5717 (press 9).

Teen Valentine’s Day program

ROYAL OAK — Middle and high school students may write love letters to their secret book-crush, make Valentine crafts, candy kabobs, and play Conversation Hearts Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road.

Registration is limited to 30. Visit ropl.org or call Youth and Teen Services at 248-246-3725 to sign up for this free program.

Legislators post coffee chat hours

FERNDALE — State Senator Vincent Gregory, D-Southfield, and State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, D-Huntington Woods, are inviting members of the community to join them for coffee and conversation regarding state and community issues from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Ferndale Public Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road.

For more information, contact Senator Gregory’s office at 517-373-7888 or Representative Lipton’s office at 517-373-0478.

‘Stock to Scholarship Challenge’

OAKLAND COUNTY – High school students are able to register for the second annual “Stock to Scholarship Challenge” sponsored by Bloomfield Hills Financial, until Feb. 15. The contest will begin on Feb. 19 and end on April 26, to win a scholarship while learning about investing in domestic stock markets. Each student is given access to an online personal stock market account seeded with $100,000 in play money to purchase stocks. They can trade stocks from their portfolio at will, with the goal to amass more “money” in their account than any other participant.

Participants have a chance to win a scholarship to the college or university of their choice. The first place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship; a second place winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship and a third place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. To register or for more information, visit www.stocktoscholarship.com.

Low-cost spaying for cats

WARREN — During the month of February, All About Animals Rescue, 23451 Pinewood St., is helping pet owners inOakland, Macomb and Wayne counties “beat the heat” with low-cost spaying for cats in advance of their heat cycles to prevent unwanted litters.

In a special promotion sponsored by PetSmart Charities, this month AAAR will spay/neuter female cats for a special rate of $20. To take advantage of the lower price, mention the “Beat the Heat” promotion when scheduling an appointment.

OAKLAND COUNTY — Consumers Energy is alerting qualifying Michigan residents that help with their heating bills may be available through a Michigan Home Heating Credit as well as a federal Earned Income Credit. Home Heating Credit forms (MI-1040CR-7) are available at most public libraries, Secretary of State branch offices, Department of Human Services branch offices or www.consumersenergy.com/energyanswers.

The federal Earned Income Credit is another refundable federal income tax credit available to qualifying low income taxpayers. It must be filed during tax season.

For income guidelines, call the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-3676. The Michigan Department of Treasury can also answer questions about both forms by calling 517-636-4486. Downloadable forms and booklets can be found at www.michigan.gov/taxes.

Free income tax preparation

FERNDALE – The Oakland Neighborhood Tax Center, 1956 Hilton, is offering free income tax preparation services to those making up to $50,000 for families and up to $35,000 for individuals.

The Center is open noon-7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Appointments are preferred and can be made by calling 313-556-1920. The Accounting Aid Society is also offering a self-service option, with free online tax software and a free tax hotline for those with incomes up to $57,000.